Glendale News Press reports that a 29-year-old Glendale man who was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport upon returning from Armenia on an outstanding $1.1-million arrest warrant pleaded not guilty this week to drugs and theft related charges, officials said.
The man, Alen Sogomonyan , was arrested Sunday without incident at LAX by U.S. Marshals Task Force officials upon his return from the Armenian capital of Yerevan, according to Glendale police.
Sogomonyan told investigators that surrendering would allow him to face charges and know “that one day he will have the opportunity to be with family again,” Lorenz said.
Officers spotted him a short time later in a Del Taco parking lot on San Fernando Road and noticed severe damage to the entire passenger side of his BMW, police said.
Sogomonyan was allegedly pacing while “sweating profusely and gnawing his mouth” after complying with an officer’s request to exit his BMW, police said.
He reportedly told police that the reason he was acting nervous was because he had been involved in a crash.
When police asked Sogomonyan if he had anything illegal inside his car, he allegedly told them “no” and ran away. A brief chase ensued before he was caught and detained.
Sogomonyan was convicted in 2003 for making threats and kidnapping, according court records.
